The Nets had their usual quick start last night, and true to form, it didn't do them a bit of good.

It was still relevant by the time their 108-99 defeat at the hands of the Sixers was over, for one reason: They vividly demonstrated -- once again -- that the offensive energy they flaunt at the start of games rarely carries over to the defensive end.

The latest example: The Nets hit their first 10 shots and rolled up 32 points in the first 12 minutes last night ...

"And we're still down three at the end of the quarter," moaned Josh Boone. "It's unbelievable. And they were getting to the free-throw line (13 times), which we were somehow unable to do."

Which raises the point: Are they really suited for this style, if they're only going to show occasional interest in getting stops?

"There's nothing wrong with the style we're playing -- we can put up points with anybody right now, but we just can't stop anybody," Boone said. "Shoot, the style of defense didn't change since the year started -- we just got more relaxed about it, that's the only thing that changed.

"If we transferred (the same intensity) to the defense 10 or 15 games ago, I don't know if we'd be in the same position we are in now. But we didn't."

The one-month assessment from Devin Harris has got to be favorable -- won-loss record notwithstanding -- because he's getting better with each passing week. The latest evidence: He's essentially a 20-and-10 guy -- averaging 21 points and 9.5 assists, plus 4.0 rebounds -- over his last four games.

"I'm pretty confident with most of the guys, obviously the guys I'm getting most of the time with," said the Nets' jet pack. "I'm still figuring out a little bit, but time will cure a lot of those ills."

Yes, he was aware that he has set every career high in the last four weeks. And Harris has a simple explanation for it.

"It's just playing time. just trying to do the best I can on the court -- seeing opportunities, taking advantage of them," he said. "Obviously I'm playing a lot more minutes here than there (Dallas) and I'm just making the most of them."

Ed Stefanski has run the Philly operation since December, and for his part, Mo Cheeks has found the arrangement to his liking. And remarkably, the Sixers coach says he had no trepidation at all when he learned that he was getting a new boss.

"He asked me my feelings of the team, and he talked about the things he would try to get done," Cheeks said last night. "And it's been on a daily basis -- it wasn't once since he got here. We've had conversations on a daily basis -- he likes text messaging, so if we're on the West Coast, he'll text and say, 'Good game, talk tomorrow,' things like that. So our relationship has been very good."

Just one question: How did he feel when Stefanski told him that he was trading Kyle Korver, which led to the new president's mandate that Cheeks play all his kids?

"I said, 'Why?'" Cheeks said with a grin. "No, you know what, that's his prerogative. He's the boss. He can do what he feels the need to better our team, and he felt it would better our team. I've always been the kind of person who will work with what I have. It's turned out to be okay."

DeSagana Diop figures to get his share of offers on the free-agent market this summer -- not only because teams always overpay for size, but because he's a legitimate backup center for any team -- but the Nets' big man says he's perfectly comfortable in New Jersey.

And little wonder: He has lived in the Cherry Hill area since the summer of 2005, just to be near agent Leon Rose's stable of players that he works out with.

His priority? "I want to just win. That's what it comes down to," the seventh-year pro says. "I want to help a team win. Losing is not fun at all. I don't care how much money you make. The style isn't important."

Yes, Diop added quickly -- he can envision winning here, which is why the Nets are near the top of the list.

"In the Eastern Conference anyone can win," he said. "I'm just going to look at all of them, see what's best for me and my family."